Ageism is all around us - hear how it affects older people around the world

We asked older people around the world how ageism affects them. Hear their voices in this video for International Day of Older Persons 2016.
Tell us why you're taking a stand against ageism: www.helpage.org/idop
www.helpage.org

[@god563616]

Ageism is PATHTEIC. I'm 30 and I've been called old and I 100% AM NOT. You have to keep your heart full of self love because people today love to tear you down. I love my seniors and will do anything for you guys!!

[@wideawake5630]

This is minor but telling. I had an ER visit and the young nurse commented that I seemed able to take care of myself, my hair was clean. I was in my sixties. I felt like a Black person being called clean and articulate. The side value the experience of their elders. As a child everyone laughed at my grandmother behind her back for talking to herself, for repeating her stories. I loved having one one one time with her. She was entertaining and I learned much. Who doesn't talk to themselves and repeat stories? We all do things like forget pots on the stove. If you do it past sixty keep it to yourself. Granny's mom did that at ninety and they took her out of her home and put her in a facility. She was dead in three months.

[@heaven7360]

I left a comment on twitter about how late night comedy hosts denigrate the elderly in their remarks. People started leaving such mean comments and were standing up for the likes of Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers & a few others and NO ONE agreed with me. I kept saying there is ageism in America and no one agreed with me. I was appalled and I felt so sad. I stopped watching those late night comedy shows as I got tired of them making jokes about older people like it was nothing...like WE deserved it.

[@adventistangelswatchmanrad2989]

So heartbreaking how society neglect most clever people in society

[@stsuncourses4054]

Values of Modern society are not all good... Respect for ageing.

[@bonniekuhn1366]

Here's what I hear from even the nicest younger people: "Oh, look at that little old lady! So adorable!" "What a cute old couple!" We are all aging, even me, and every time younger family members say such things about older people, I feel a little less able, a little less competent.

[@debbieharriman1194]

people are so.rude to.the seniors. thats why im.moving to japan .

[@KeyoneGrant]

Debbie Harriman why are poeple so rude to kids?

[@billylaw9614]

Why are old people stereotyping teens. It’s bullshit

[@irrelevant1242]

OMG why are gen z all such narcissists, we can’t have a single video not about you? If we do you get so fucking offended. I wish I wasn’t a gen z but if I wasn’t you’d probably ok boomer me like you do every time somebody other than you tries to voice a problem in society related to them.

[@masonhovick2724]

how is Japan?

[@bizznick444joe7]

Is it any better there?

[@whiteeyedshadow8423]

Has anyone noticed the fact that the survey includes alot of Africans?

[@mejust4742]

Affects just old people ?? NO I am afraid it affects even younger people, for example in my case young people who are 5 or more years younger than me avoid having anything to do with me.

[@jaswantkhalsa2849]

Who goes around offending older people. The only people are young rude degenerates. Ignore them. They’ll get smarter as they grow. Just ignore them.

[@wideawake5630]

American ageism might bite us in our firm young ass. We have the most effective president in decades with unique qualifications and all some people see is his age. Who takes their pitcher out of the game when they are consistently striking out the opponents? Biden '24.

[@lettucemcgrims4947]

it annoys me that this is entitled ageism and it's a bunch of old people, yes there is discrimination about old people but for those old people to make claims about younger people that aren't supported is also ageism.

[@irrelevant1242]

Lettuce Mcgrims I have been at many videos about ageism; most are about young people and whenever they aren’t yall bitch and moan. Your all a bunch of narcissists and I’m ashamed to be apart of your generation.

[@lettucemcgrims4947]

Irrelevant12 ??? sorry about the rant, but I feel the need to clear some things up. TLDR: what I should have said that displaying an ageism video about ageism while being ageist is pissing me off and annoying the fuck out of me. It appears that people are assuming that I am somehow against an aging population or that I think older people are annoying and should be pinned to elderly homes. When in reality, I live with an elderly couple that I have no relationship with, and I am going to school for psychology, this was a required video for that class. ON WITH THE RANK- read or don’t at your own risk, grab a nice beverage, and dig in. I have a feeling you’ll see this and give up, but this is my actual opinion that one-liner did little to express my real feelings. My issues are not that they are old; my concern is their presentation of other ages. For instance, I feel for the 50-year-old man who might go homeless due to joblessness, that fucking sucks. No one should go homeless due to unemployment. But for him not to understand that, that entitled 20-year-old that told him to retire is also facing the same issue of homelessness due to joblessness. Young people tend to think that because companies are seeking professions unfounded credentials: an entry job with two or more years of experience, that an older population is to blame. When in actuality, it has more to do with hiring processes and company basis then an actual race to a job. My wish for this documentary would have been issues facing an aging population and not another blame another generation for the problems that are affecting everyone. Fighting against each other is not going to win anyone anything. This video made me think a lot about this problem. Companies need to restructure their policies and view on hiring people of a certain age (both old and young). If a person is close to a retirement age does not mean that they are going to retire, a lot of people, especially Americans who don’t have funds backed by the government, will continue to work for longer then the set retirement age. THE WORLD IS CHANGING In earlier generations, we would have called these people old, senile and believed that they belonged in homes and should stay out of sight. (just like their opinion about children) however, in our current western societies, our view of aging adults has changed. An excellent example of this is movies, actors that would have been set aside and forgotten about with tags of them being too old to be in the film has changed. We can see videos with an aged population, something that never would have happened before.

[@heaven7360]

I'm sorry if you feel this way. I am from America and only the youth have worth. The aged are seen as doddering idiots who are so dumb they don't even know how to use a cell phone or computer. I'm 72 and have used computers since the mid 80s. I have no idea why you are so rude and mean spirited in your comment. One day you will grow old...my friend we are all walking down the same path. I like people who are young but it is so rare that I meet any of them who aren't very limited in their knowledge of older people. I think the folks in this video were speaking to their experience of young people. You don't have to be so worried about being discriminated against. That is ridiculous and very small of you to think this way

[@luluanthem]

I'm 25, but I'm honestly scared of how demonized and disrespected elderly people are being by my generation and younger. They might not realize growing old is the fate of all of us, and you get what you give. I can't imagine living in a world where everyone denies their own natural aging process for as long as possible until they're being treated as poorly as they've treated the elderly that came before, but I might already live in that world. With no respect or empathy, what are any of us left with?

[@heaven7360]

You're breaking my heart

[@chicagolandable]

I agree. Young people are so very disrespectful.

[@jahvesmith589]

As well are old people. Not a 1 way street

[@billylaw9614]

You think kids are rude? They don’t have the knowledge to be better but at least they are understanding not like old people who are waaay more racist, homophobic and discriminating

[@bizznick444joe7]

@@jahvesmith589 In what way am I rude.

[@toafafaamoana5044]

ufa ai kae kefe it effects younger people aswell anyone with me

[@irrelevant1242]

To'afa Fa'amoana apparently most are...because they can’t handle a single video not about them. Stop being so narcissistic as to dismiss this side of the issue for not being relevant to you.

[@irrelevant1242]

Your part of the problem

[@littlebiscout9079]

@@irrelevant1242 It affects young people and old (seniors) they believe that children are stupid and are vulnerable which that age it is very stupid. They are technically saying that all the children are vulnerable disregarding the fact that young parents exist (ones who look after their ill parents) The children who will sacrifice themselves for a damn loved one. The children who wrote their own stories. And in top of that they say we are stupid. At the age of 9, I would walk home Cook myself dinner and wait till my parents come back. Even at the small age of ten some children walk miles home and go alone to do shopping.

[@johnmadeburgers6200]

Yep that’s millennials for you It’s sad

[@whiteeyedshadow8423]

John Made burgers I am a millennial, so does that mean that I am automatically a rude a-hole?

[@billylaw9614]

That’s like me saying you’re old so you have a walking stick and are forgetful

[@vivg9149]

Um you realize that the over 65 crowd doesn't include gen x, millennials, or gen z? All of us are responsible for perpetuating ageism and you pointing fingers isn't doing anything towards reducing stigma for the elderly.

[@Not-Ap]

@@whiteeyedshadow8423 Yes yes it does!😂